40 Comments on How to Cook Camping Doughnuts

We found that our cubs liked donut holes, so we cut the biscut in 4, and everyone got their own bag to carry around with their toppings. It has been a Sunday morning tradition for the pack for a few years. Quick and easy, little mess, and any parent can do it.

When using a dutch oven (cast iron) it will tend to overheat when left on the fire. But no worry, remove it from the fire. The cast iron takes a long time to cool so you can keep cooking donuts while it’s off the fire. If it cools too much just place it back on/in the fire.
Regarding the oil, if you are not going to use it again for a long time it might be best to carefully, very carefully. pour it onto the fire to dispose of it.

I used to make these when I was a Scout in the early 60s, but I did two things differently. I just poked the hole with my finger. Then you can spin the dough on your finger to make it stretch. I mixed the powdered sugar with a little bit of water to make a glaze and poured that onto hot donuts. It cooled into a glaze.

We make these every camping trip on the last day for breakfast since there’s hardly any mess to clean up. Grandkids love to shake these in a bag with powdered sugar. Try putting a spoonful of Nutella in the middle of the biscuit and roll it into a ball and fry. We buy the cheapest biscuits in the 4-pack and works great.

use the regular buttermilk bisquits and pinch the hole and stretch out the dough in a larger ring.
Dip in a bowl of simple glaze made with powder sugar and water.
Use shortening and allow to harden back in frying pan, store in freezer and reuse.

If you really want to be creative, you can cook the whole biscuit without cutting out the middle, and cook as directed above. When done, use paper towel and soak up excess oil. (As directed above) Then with your pocket knife, cut a 1 inch slot in the side of the doughnut, put on a plastic glove, stick your finger into the slot and make a large hole in the middle, and fill the inside with jelly, cream or other fun things.

P.S. Be careful that the jelly does not fall out of the slot when you are eating it!

You can always reuse cooking oil. You shouldn’t throw it away. when it gets dirty you can use a screen to filter out the debris. Oil can last a very long time if kept clean. Let it cool and pour it in a jug. i used to keep a mason jar of oil in the camp kitchen box for all kinds of recipes.